Sukta 18
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (individual r̥ṣi not specified in the provided excerpt; to be resolved via Anukramaṇī data).
Devata: Mantra as operative power (brahman); implicitly Agni as carrier due to svāhā.
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh or a short pragmatic formula; exact meter requires full pada-count verification.
अथर्ववेदस्य २.१८ सूक्तं संक्षिप्तं स्वाहाकार-चिह्नितं च कर्मसूत्रसमूहः, यत् शत्रून्—विशेषतः भ्रातृव्यं (स्पर्धकं प्रतिद्वन्द्विनं) अरायं च—क्षयणाय चातनाय च प्रयुज्यते। प्रतिमन्त्रं कर्मण उपस्करः क्रिया वा एव शत्रुनाश-शक्तिरिति निर्दिश्यते, ततश्च सा शक्तिः यजमानस्य रक्षायै जयाय अविच्छिन्न-क्षेमाय च स्थान्तरिता भवत्विति प्रार्थ्यते। पुनःपुनः ‘स्वाहा’ इति वचनं एतत् मन्त्रबलं (ब्रह्म) अग्निना वह्यमानं हुत्यात्मना ‘मुद्रितम्’ इव भवतीति दर्शयति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। भ्रा॒तृ॒व्य॒क्षय॑णमसि भ्रातृव्य॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
शत्रुनाशनम्। भ्रा॒तृ॒व्य॒क्षय॑णमसि भ्रातृव्य॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑।
Mantra 2
स॒प॒त्न॒क्षय॑णमसि सपत्न॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
स॒प॒त्न॒क्षय॑णमसि सपत्न॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑।
Mantra 3
अ॒रा॒य॒क्षय॑णमस्यराय॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
अ॒रा॒य॒क्षय॑णमस्यराय॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑।
Mantra 4
पि॒शा॒च॒क्षय॑णमसि पिशाच॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
पिशाचक्षयणमसि; पिशाचचातनं मे दाः—स्वाहा।
Mantra 5
स॒दा॒न्वा॒क्षय॑णमसि सदान्वा॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
सदान्वाक्षयणमसि; सदान्वाचातनं मे दाः—स्वाहा।
Frequently Asked Questions
In Atharvavedic usage, bhrātṛvya is a hostile peer or rival claimant—someone competing for the same status, share, or authority. The hymn aims to diminish that rival’s strength and drive them away from the sacrificer’s sphere.
Svāhā marks the mantra as an offering-formula: the words are meant to be accompanied by an oblation into fire. It also functions as a ritual seal, transmitting the intended effect through Agni as carrier.
Its primary register is abhicārika (rival-subduing and expulsion), but it is also strongly apotropaic: it seeks to remove hostile forces from the patron and establish ongoing protection. Traditional use is framed as defense, safeguarding, and securing one’s rightful standing.
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